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May 10, 2013

Learning and Sharing plus Giveaway

Geta Grama from Geta's Quilting Studio is hosting a blog hop this week, so we can share with each other tips we learned in our quilting journey. I am always amazed at quilters' willingness to share what they know with one another (why reinvent the wheel, right?).

What is a blog hop without a giveaway? I have two gifts for a lucky quilter:

Note:
If you are a no-reply blogger - or you are not sure - you may want to
include
your e-mail address on your comment, using words such as 'at' and 'dot'
in place of the usual symbols (this way you will not get spam email, and
I will be able to reach you in case you are
the winner!)

2. Bonus: leave me another comment telling me you are a follower, for an extra entry!

This
giveaway will close May 16 at 5 pm. The randomly chosen
winner will be announced on Friday, May 17, here at this blog. I
will ship internationally, too!

You may want to create a file to record the tidbits you will collect as you visit all the creative blogs. Thanks, Geta, for your idea and for hosting this blog hop!

So, here is my contribution. I am pairing it down to 10 points, for your convenience.

2. For successful color schemes on your projects, take the time to learn about the color wheel, color values, and the advantages of playing with fabric texture. Value can make or break your designs, and fabric texture adds an extra dimension to your quilt.

3. About threads: purchase the best quality you can afford, even for piecing! If you use low-quality thread for piecing thinking the seams will be hidden anyway, you might be shortchanging yourself: tons of lint will accumulate in the gears of your sewing machine, causing thread breakage and other problems; thick threads will affect the overall size of your block; threads might endlessly break, and your project will take longer and be less enjoyable.

As for fabrics: you are spending soooo much time piecing and quilting your wonderful project, so why would you use anything but high-quality fabrics on your quilt??? Enough said...

4. For easy piecing, try the assembly line method: instead of piecing one whole block at a time (unless it is a sampler quilt), stitch each section of all blocks at once, then move on to the next, and so on. Use strong thin thread (such as Aurifil, my favorite!), clean and oil your machine before each project, and always start with a new needle. These few tips will ensure smooth piecing...

5. Art quilts are an alternative if you don't enjoy patchwork. You can create amazing landscapes or abstract designs using paint, thread, and embellishments. Sometimes, that is all I want to do: play with fabric. Have you tried it?

6. As for quilting your own quilts: don't spend hours on end practicing. Make a small wall hanging and start quilting it! Your lines will become smoother, you will quilt with more confidence, and soon you will venture into larger projects. Take advantage of different marking tools (for intricate designs, Golden Thread paper is my favorite tool, or use FriXion pen to design your own lines [be sure to test the pen on a scrap piece of the fabric before using it liberally - it may leave white marks on darker fabrics!]). Shorten your stitches when quilting lots of curves or custom patterns. When stitching in the ditch or around applique motifs, always work with monofilament!

7. Check out the tutorials on my blog by clicking here. Lots of cool techniques and projects!

8. Sewing Machine thoughts: for straight stitch, any machine which is in good repair will do. If you are planning on buying a machine, listen to your friends' experience with their own, then go to a store and take the machines for a 'test drive'. However, make sure whatever you buy has the 'needle down' feature and, if possible, that bar on the right side which allows you to lift the presser foot with your knee - it makes life so much easier! As for me, my Bernina is heaven!

9. Quilting books: they are the best! Eleanor Burns' Quilt in a Day series are fabulous books for beginners and seasoned quilters alike. Also, check out the books I have reviewed (click here) for insight on many great possible additions to your library.

10. My last advice: if you are planning on giving quilts away to friends and family members, DO IT NOW! Let them enjoy them, sleep under them, use them as they please. If needed, replace the gift after wear and tear. Quilts can be heirlooms, but they are to be enjoyed and not be folded and stashed away in a closet... If you want it to be carefully kept, give it to them inside frame and glass, but give it to them now. Watch them enjoy the gift...

I can only underline your item 3.) - by the best thread, because cheaper thread kills your sewing fun. I can do satin stich appliqué or embroidery in high speed with high qualtity thread, but the cheaper thread always breaks, it's a nuisance. And chain-piecing gets a lot of work done and you can even sew mindlessly if you just sew squares together. It's relaxing AND productive! Thanks for the chance!

Thank you for sharing! I totally agree with you about giving the quilts, I only made a few and most of them were offered to others - I was very satisfied seeing them appreciated, and I have also received quilted gifts, so this is the best approach to this! Thanks once again!

Thanks for all the wonderful tips. I especially like #6 - practicing on a scrap sandwich is only good for testing tension, so I need to make some table toppers to practice designs. And thanks for the chance to win.

Thanks for all the good hints. The only one I question is the oiling of your machine, my newest machine is not to be oiled; the rest do require oiling. I don't want to ruin that machine by oiling it. I love the idea of using good thread. It's a shame to have a great otherwise quality quilt and have the seams come apart due to poor quality thread. I don't think many sewists know there really is a difference in thread. Thanks for the generous giveaway.

=) love your tips. I totally understand not wanting to waste time and energy on poor quality materials. I have little time right now, with school and family, to make something that will not last. Esp. when Joann Fabrics prices are $8-10/yd and quilting quality fabrics are $10-12. Not that much of a price difference.

Nice tips, I Love my embroidery scissors. I don't want to be too overdramatize but yes, please, if you are thinking of making someone a gift you should and soon. You really don't know how short life can be. I made someone dear to me a gift that I had been thinking about for a while. We were both happy, me to give and her to get. She enjoyed it for two weeks, then she passed. I was so happy I made it and she got to enjoy it even if it was just for two weeks :)

Thanks for all the tips. I completely agree about using quality thread and fabrics. I also agree that quilts are meant to be given and enjoyed ... used and well-loved ... and when they become worn, I have a good reason to make a new quilt for my loved ones ... :) Pat

I love my FriXion pen but be warned - patch test it on your fabrics as I have found with some (particularly darker fabrics) it can pull the colour right out when you apply the heat to remove the pen line. Could be very upsetting if you had used it to quilt your top and then their is a pale line under all your quilting stitches.

Thank you for the tips! I like the tip on trying out the machine at the shop. My DH just purchased me a PE500 embroidery machine. I wanted a duel but after he read the reviews. He went with a PE 500. I have not had a chance to play with it since this past weekend was helping out my children due to surgery and did enjoy my grandchildren. Now I am on trip with my DH and brought the machine with me to play with it on his business trip. I also need to play with the color wheel. That is my biggest problem. Thanks for sharing....Judith, Texas

I enjoyed your last tip, about giving away your quilts, the best. I would add to that, USE your quilts! Mine get washed and worn, but so what - there are lots more coming down the pike.I'm not sure I get all the stuff about 'following' and giveaways, but I sure enjoy looking at and reading the blogs.Thanks for your comment on mine!

I enjoyed your last tip, about giving away your quilts, the best. I would add to that, USE your quilts! Mine get washed and worn, but so what - there are lots more coming down the pike.I'm not sure I get all the stuff about 'following' and giveaways, but I sure enjoy looking at and reading the blogs.Thanks for your comment on mine!

Thank you for the ten tips! My favorite notion tool is the seam ripper. My late father gave me one with a long hand turned handle that fits my larger hands perfectly. Of course, I would love to win the fabric too.

Thanks for your generosity and your advice! I especially appreciate your comments about quilts to be used. I have a couple family members who regularly use the quilts I've given them. My mother, on the other hand, keeps her quilt stored in a pillowcase in her closet because "it is far to nice to be used." Maybe I'll have to make her a less nice one and she will feel comfortable using it. :)

You have given us some great tips. I'm always looking for the most useful features of a sewing machine. When I'm ready to buy a new one, I'll know exactly which features I need. Thanks for the giveaway.

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The links above and some of the links in my posts are affiliate links: if you click on the link and decide to purchase something, I may receive a commission. I often receive books from publishers so I can review them on my blog and, at times, I may receive products to use and write about my experience with them.

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